Marquis Munoz returns a West Lafayette onside kick for a touchdown, one of six TDs for the Lafayette Jeff senior in Friday's 74-66 win over West Lafayette.(Photo: Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier)

LAFAYETTE — Where do we start?

How about here.

Class 6A No. 8 Lafayette Jeff 74, Class 3A No. 1 West Lafayette 66.

And as crazy as it sounds, both teams have a pretty good defense, which tells you how phenomenal their offenses are.

"You never felt easy, not with their play calling," Lafayette Jeff coach Pat Shanley said after winning the wildest game he's ever coached. "(West Lafayette coach) Shane Fry is a magician. His quarterback is a magician. You feel like you've got to keep scoring because they are going to keep scoring.

"To tell you the truth, man, I am glad it is over. I don't feel great right now, but I am proud of our kids."

West Lafayette wide receiver Cannon Melchi (25) runs the ball down the field during the first quarter of a IHSAA football game, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019 at Scheumann Stadium in Lafayette. Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier

Two girls pose for a photo in front of the Scheumann Stadium entrance before the first quarter of an IHSAA football game, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019 in Lafayette. Lafayette Jeff won, 74-66. Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier

An American flag is raised during the playing of the national anthem before the first quarter of an IHSAA football game, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019 at Scheumann Stadium in Lafayette. Lafayette Jeff won, 74-66. Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier

Adams threw for 554 and seven touchdowns alone. Grimes threw for 404 and two scores.

"(Adams) just creates so much with his feet. You’re right there and he slips you," Shanley said. "He’s special. And our guy is too. I said it before and I will say it again. I think the best two quarterbacks in the state of Indiana reside in Tippecanoe County."

The two offenses combined for 1,317 yards.

West Lafayette's uptempo offense put up video game numbers against a Broncho defense that might have one of the best front lines in the state.

Miami (Ohio) recruit Harrison Truitt caught four touchdown passes and had 12 receptions for 229 yards. He was one of three West Side receivers with double-digit catches, joining Cannon Melchi (13 for 99 yards and a touchdown) and Yanni Karlaftis (10 for 98 and a touchdown).

Sam Schott was called upon to relieve Corey Adams, who left with an injury, and had five receptions for 61 yards and a score.

The Red Devils, who ran the table last season en route to the Class 3A state championship, almost pulled out a miraculous comeback.

"I heard our guys on the sideline doing the math and they said, 'If we get this two (point conversion), we are going to onside kick it and we're in this," Fry said. "Our guys are very disappointed we didn't come out on top. We still believed. We were down eight points and we still thought we could do this."

Why wouldn't they believe it?

In a game where no lead seemed safe, it was the second-half heroics of senior running back Marquis Munoz that delivered the backbreaking plays and handed West Side its first Week 1 loss since 2005.

Munoz rushed for 197 yards and five touchdowns, including four in the second half.

But it was a return score that proved most pivotal.

West Lafayette trailed by 10 when an onside kick attempt was retrieved by Munoz, who returned it 53 yards with 5:42 to go for Jeff's final touchdown.

"I would like to give credit to my baseball coach (Scott) McTagertt," Munoz said. "I play outfield and get hops all the time.

"Baseball correlates. I can't tell you what I was thinking. I saw the ball and how it hopped and I looked up and my body starts running. I didn't think about it. I didn't say, 'I am going to run.' I see them over committing because they didn't think I was going to do that, but I was running for my life."

Munoz and backfield mate Thomas Hogan did the heavy lifting in the second half, while it was Grimes and receivers Derrick Matthews and Bishop Johnson kept Jeff in it early.

Johnson had a 53-yard touchdown reception and a 96-yard kickoff return score. Matthews caught a touchdown on Jeff's opening drive and finished with eight receptions for 141 yards.

"We’re both competitive teams. When it comes down to crunch time, we’re all in. A lot of heads knocking," Jeff senior defensive back Quentin Stepheny said. "A lot of plays that didn’t go our way and a lot of plays that didn’t go their way. It comes down to competing. They are a great team. I feel like I overlooked them. That offense is pretty nasty and they brought it.

"Their offense kind of compares to our offense with their speed and they do a lot of different things. They are a good offense and they are just going to make us better."

In a game as wild as Friday night's, the defense will easily be overlooked.

Defensive plays may have been what won Jeff the game, however.

Garrett Price and Steven Stephany each picked off Adams in the end zone, Price's on the opening drive and Stephany's with 6:43 to go in the third quarter and Jeff leading 40-36.

West Lafayette also had to settle for three short field goals in the first half after getting into the red zone and had a turnover on downs with 8:22 remaining in the fourth quarter.

"You watch (Jeff's defense) come to the sideline and never once were they hanging their heads," Shanley said. "They knew what they were up against. They knew they were up against a special offense. They didn’t get a lot of stops or as many as they wanted, but they made key plays in key situations and games like this come down to five or six."

Sam King covers high school sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.